What are the most common chainsaw accidents?

The most common hazards associated with chainsaws are injuries caused by kickback, pushback, and pull-in. Kickback is the most common and poses the greatest hazard. Kickback occurs when the rotating chain is stopped suddenly by contact with a more solid area throwing the saw rapidly backward toward the operator.

What causes chainsaw kickback?

As mentioned above, a dull chain can cause kickback, as the teeth will not be able to cut through the wood, which will cause the chain to get stuck and cause kickback. If the nose of the chainsaw bar strikes a log or a hidden branch you will be at risk of kickback.

Where is the most likely place for a struck by injury to occur to the chainsaw operator when felling a tree?

More than 36 percent were injuries to the legs and knees. Approximately 40 percent of all chainsaw accidents occur to the legs and well over 35 percent occur to the left hand and wrist.

How many people have died from chainsaws?

U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (data collected through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)), “The number of chain saw injuries from all users (loggers, arborists, other professions, and even homeowners), ranges anywhere from 40,000 to 90,000 each year for severe, non-fatal accidents.

What are the dangers of using a chainsaw?

The most common hazards associated with chainsaws are injuries caused by kickback, pushback, and pull-in. Kickback is the most common and poses the greatest hazard. Kickback occurs when the rotating chain is stopped suddenly by contact with a more solid area throwing the saw rapidly backward toward the operator.

How many people are injured by chain saws?

Be sure that bystanders are at a safe distance from cutting activities. Check around the tree or pole for hazards, such as nails, power lines, or cables, before cutting. Each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws.

What causes a chain saw to go backwards?

Three Common Causes for Chainsaw Injury. 1. Kickback. Kickback happens when a chain saw contacts a solid object or is pinched in a tight space. The term describes the chainsaw suddenly being propelled backwards towards the operator.

What can be done to prevent chain saw injuries?

For occupations which use chain saws, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Bureau of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration have produced training guides specific to forestry related occupations, inclusive of injury prevention measures [ 10